5 Series That Will Be Must-See TV for MLB Fans Down the Stretch

This September may not be the most exciting final month of the season in Major League Baseball, but there are still plenty of series to watch as the season dwindles down.

With two divisions, the American League West and National League Central, still up for grabs as well as all four wild cards, there is plenty to play for during the stretch run. 

With the close pennant races come a few big-time series that could decide the outcome of those specific races.

Here is a look at five series you should watch during the stretch run of the MLB season. 

Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals

When: September 16-18

Where: Kauffman Stadium 

No, this is not a joke. A September series between the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals is actually a meaningful one this season.

Both teams are out of the AL Central race, but the duo have plenty of life in the wild-card race. 

Heading into Sunday, the Indians were one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the final wild-card position while the Royals were three-and-a-half games adrift of the Rays. 

The three-game set in Kansas City that begins next week could essentially be an elimination series, especially if the Indians come out on top. 

With both teams fighting to stay in the wild-card race heading into the final 10 days of the season, look for everything to be left on the line between these two resurgent franchises. 

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

When: September 16-19

Where: Tropicana Field

During the same week where the Indians and Royals will be squaring off, the two teams currently on top of the AL wild-card standings will face off at the Trop. 

The Texas Rangers are still searching for a division title, but they have to overcome Oakland in the final few weeks of the season to do that. 

The good news for Ron Washington's club is that it will have the first wild-card spot in the AL as a backup option to qualify for the postseason.

Tampa's chances of winning the AL East are becoming slimmer by the day, but like the Rangers, they have plenty of confidence in winning one of the two wild-card spots in the league. 

The Rays currently sit three games behind Texas and one game ahead of Baltimore and Cleveland in the wild-card standings. 

With a chance to distance themselves from their wild-card rivals, and to earn home-field in the one-game wild-card playoff, expect the Rays to go all out in this four-game set. 

Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

When: September 20-22

Where: PNC Park 

The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates will become quite familiar with each other during the final 10 days of the season.

The first of two big series between the two clubs comes to us from PNC Park from September 20-22. 

Currently, both teams have the two NL wild-card positions locked up with Arizona eight games behind the Reds entering Sunday. 

But, the wild-card race is something that both the Reds and Pirates do not want to settle for because the NL Central title in still within reach. 

With the Cardinals having a fairly easy schedule leading into the postseason, both ballclubs will have to find a way to gain ground on the stingy NL Central leaders.

Beating up on each other in the final week will not help either side, but they will have to make it work if they want the division title that bad. 

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees

When: September 24-26

Where: Yankee Stadium

Emotions will be flowing at an all-time high when the Rays visit the Bronx for the final time this season. 

With a wild-card berth still potentially on the line, fans of the New York Yankees will be saying goodbye to a legend in closer Mariano Rivera. 

With no guarantee of postseason play, Rivera could be making his final appearances at Yankee Stadium during this series. 

If the Yankees want to prevent Rivera from missing out on the postseason, they will have to sweep their division rival. 

While they do need some help from the opponents of the Orioles and Indians down the stretch as well, sweeping the Rays would do wonders for the playoff hopes of Joe Girardi's team. 

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds

When: September 27-29

Where: Great American Ballpark

The final series of the season between the Pirates and Reds could end up being quite the peculiar one. 

If the Cardinals are able to lock up the NL Central title before this weekend series begins, the two teams will be battling for the chance to host the one-game NL wild-card playoff. 

With the playoff game in the back of their mind, it will be interesting to see how both Clint Hurdle and Dusty Baker arrange their starting rotations. 

If one team is behind by more than two games in the wild-card hosting race, it will be interesting to see if that team's manager goes all in during the final regular-season series of the season or during the one game that will mean everything to both sides. 

Regardless of the outcome, this series will provide plenty of intrigue heading into the start of the playoffs.